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Chapter 1488 Birthday Cake
After successfully divorcing Huang Ling, Su Ning suddenly felt relieved and no longer regarded Huang Ling as his responsibility and burden. He guessed that Huang Ling must have the same idea.

After returning to Fudan University, Suning immediately plunged into intensive studies. After all, two years of undergraduate study, one year of master's degree and one year of doctoral study was a fixed route.

Professor Qiu from the Department of Mathematics looked at Su Ning, who was studying very hard, and asked, "Chaoying, have you sorted out all the family matters?"

Su Ning didn't explain too much about himself to Professor Qiu. After all, he felt that there was no point in saying too much. "Right! The students in grades 77 and 78 are all in similar situations. Most of us have already started families, so family matters are very complicated."

Professor Qiu then looked at Su Ning and explained another matter, "That's it! Your application for early completion has been approved, and you will be given a final exam in January 1980."

"Professor, thank you so much."

"Chaoying, don't be so polite with me. The school and I have very high expectations of you."

"Professor, don't worry! I will never let you and the school down."

"Well, have you ever considered studying abroad?"

You know, Suning is not the kind of "sheepdog" who lacks confidence. "No! I'd better finish my doctorate in China first. You know, the moon is not necessarily rounder in foreign countries."

However, Professor Qiu was quite confused and tried to persuade Su Ning, "Huh? Chaoying, your thinking is not acceptable. The level of international mathematical development is very high. I suggest you study abroad."

"Professor, that's right! Looks like I need to finish my undergraduate studies in January of 1979."

"Chaoying, isn't the time too tight? Can you complete all the university courses in one year?"

"No problem at all! I'm very confident in myself, and this kind of thing is not uncommon in foreign universities."

"Okay! Then let's wait and see."

Professor Qiu's words also reminded Suning that the value of "sea turtle" was still far beyond imagination in the 1980s. If he had the identity of "sea turtle", his work and life in China would be quite convenient in the future.

……

After the slogan of reform and opening up was put forward, the hearts of the general public also became restless. Huang Ling and Song Ying's secret sale of snake melons is a good proof of this.

Many people began to think about doing something else after being too quiet. Yiming, a child from a cotton mill, and his cousin Xiangyang were a representative example. They also took advantage of the weekends to secretly do some small business.

However, Xiangyang had just been introduced by Lin Wufeng to work in the compressor factory. As a result, when the two of them were secretly purchasing goods, they were met by Grandpa Zhang and Lin Wufeng who were on patrol.

Lin Wufeng naturally let them go without hesitation. Grandpa Zhang had originally wanted to send them to the street, but once he did that, it would be difficult for them to find a job anywhere in the future. So Lin Wufeng also hoped that Grandpa Zhang could let the two children go, and in the end the matter was resolved.

On the way back, Xiang Yang looked at Lin Wufeng with a worried look on his face, "Master Lin, will our incident this time have any negative consequences?"

"Don't worry! Your Grandpa Zhang knows what's going on and won't say anything." Lin Wufeng explained with a nonchalant smile.

Then Xiangyang couldn't help but speak out his true feelings, "That's good! I was hoping to get a permanent position."

"Xiangyang, as long as you are willing to study and work patiently, I will definitely recommend you for a full-time position when a good opportunity arises."

"Master Lin, thank you! Fortunately, you have been helping us all the time, otherwise we really don't know what to do."

"Silly boy, why are you being so polite to me?"

Yiming, who was standing by, looked at Lin Wufeng curiously and asked, "Master Lin, has Teacher Zhuang really divorced Aunt Ling?"

However, Lin Wufeng frowned and was unwilling to discuss this topic with Yiming and the others. "Yiming, adult matters have nothing to do with you kids, so don't ask about these trivial matters."

"Oh? Got it, Master Lin."

Lin Wufeng also knew that Xiangyang was eager to get a permanent job, but he still told him to focus on his work and that he would keep their sales secret.

As for Grandpa Zhang, he was unlikely to meddle in other people's business. After all, Yiming and Xiangyang were children of familiar families. However, Lin Wufeng was still worried about Yiming and Xiangyang's current impetuous state.

In the hearts of ordinary people in this era, formal jobs with guaranteed income are still more prestigious. Even in later generations, the saying that the end of the universe is the system is still popular. Therefore, Lin Wufeng still does not approve of Yiming and Xiangyang's speculation.

However, it is precisely because of the different choices made by Yiming and Xiangyang that they have different development paths. At present, Yiming, who is engaged in business, has a better future.

It is quite difficult for Xiangyang to become a regular employee in the compressor factory. Lin Wufeng will take Song Ying and Lin Dongzhe to Guangzhou next. Moreover, Xiangyang is an ordinary technician without a college degree. It can be foreseen that he will be hovering around the poverty line in the future.

……

Zhuang Xiaoting's birthday is coming soon, and Song Ying suggests that the three of them go out to dinner together, but Huang Ling doesn't think it's a good idea.

After all, she believes that children should not be spoiled too much. Besides, now that she is raising two children alone, she really doesn't want to live too high-profile.

Huang Ling rejected Song Ying's suggestion without hesitation, "Song Ying, how can a child be spoiled like this? I think we should just cook some noodles at home."

"How can that be possible! We must instill an idea in children from a young age, that is, girls must learn to love themselves." However, Song Ying had a completely different opinion.

In the end, Huang Ling refused again, citing her annoyance as an excuse. "Forget it! So much has happened in the past two years, and neither the adults nor the children are in the mood for this."

"This……"

At this time, Suning also mailed back a princess dress to Zhuang Xiaoting as a birthday gift.

Suning has now successfully completed his undergraduate studies and passed the undergraduate graduation examination. He has also been successfully admitted to Professor Qiu's graduate program and plans to study abroad for a doctorate after graduating from graduate school in 1980.

So he didn't come back to celebrate Zhuang Xiaoting's birthday, he just gave her a birthday present and of course ordered a birthday cake on her birthday.

Sure enough, when Zhuang Xiaoting opened the gift, she was extremely surprised. The white princess dress was so beautiful. Together with the small shoes that Suning mailed back with it, Zhuang Xiaoting looked as beautiful as a little princess when she wore it.

Song Ying, who was standing by, couldn't help but be amazed. "Oh my! Xiao Ting really looks like a little princess in this princess dress."

Zhuang Xiaoting was naturally full of surprise and insecurity at this moment, "Mom, Auntie, do I really look beautiful in this?"

"Beautiful! It's really beautiful."

At this time, the little naughty monkey Lin Dongzhe started to make a fuss, "Mom, I have to dress nicely too, otherwise I won't be worthy of the little princess."

"You little brat, you're just a little monkey. It's useless even if you wear a dragon robe."

"..."

Huang Ling no longer pays much attention to Suning's situation, but seeing that Suning can still treat the child as usual, she still feels a little relieved.

Now Zhuang Tunan and Zhuang Xiaoting are both very sensible, and studying has never required much effort from their mother. As a mother, Huang Ling is naturally very content.

Of course, a normal woman would also think of a man when it was late at night, but she no longer expected Suning to treat her the same way as before. The beauty of that time could only be regarded as the most beautiful dream of her life.

Zhuang Xiaoting's birthday was very happy and lively, especially the cake that Suning ordered from the Suzhou cake shop, which amazed the children in the cotton mill.

Although cakes have been introduced to China since Shanghai was opened as a port, they are still a luxury for Chinese people who are struggling to make ends meet. Many children from the cotton mill spontaneously ran over to celebrate Zhuang Xiaoting's birthday.

Fortunately, Suning anticipated this special situation in advance and customized a larger cake, but it was still divided up by the children in the first time.

Every child who got a piece of cake had a smile on his face and also gave Zhuang Xiaoting a heartfelt blessing, which naturally made Zhuang Xiaoting smile even more.

Zhang A'mei drooled as she looked at the cake and praised it, "Sister Ling, your teacher Zhuang is truly amazing. Not only is he a student at Fudan University in Shanghai, but he also treats Tunan and Xiaoting so attentively."

However, Song Ying, standing by, thought Zhang A-mei was deliberately trying to embarrass Huang Ling. "A-mei, how can you say that? Sister Ling and Teacher Zhuang are no longer family! Don't you know that? Or are you deliberately trying to embarrass Sister Ling?"

Zhang A-mei's face looked a little uneasy after her purpose and motive were exposed. "Huh? No! Song Ying, you misunderstood me. I meant that it's difficult for divorced couples to guarantee that they will be so attentive to their children."

"Humph! How dare he! Tunan and Xiaoting are both his biological children. If Mr. Zhuang dares to imitate others and become a stepfather or stepmother, as their neighbor, I will personally run to Shanghai and chop him up."

"Uh..." At this time, Zhang A-mei and Wu Jianguo's faces suddenly turned ugly, and it seemed that the couple were offended by Song Ying's words.

Everyone in the cotton mill knew that the couple were nicknamed stepfather and stepmother by others. In the past, they naturally turned a blind eye and a deaf ear to it. They really didn't expect that Song Ying would point at the monk and call him bald today.

Huang Ling, who was standing by, quickly changed the subject and said, "Huh? A-mei, Lao Wu, Song Ying, there's still some cake left. I heard it tastes really sweet, why don't you try some too?"

"Thank you, Sister Ling." Wu Jianguo and Zhang A'mei both felt embarrassed as they took the cake.

Huang Ling picked up another piece of cake and handed it to her best friend, "Song Ying, you eat it too." "Humph! Of course I have to eat it, this is our Xiaoting's birthday cake."

Lin Dongzhe, the naughty boy at the side, made another request, "Mom, I want to buy a cake for my birthday too."

However, Song Ying was furious at this request. "You naughty boy, do you know how expensive a cake is? And you even have to give me food coupons and sugar coupons. I'm ashamed you can open your mouth like that."

"I won't do it! I just want to eat it. At worst, I'll come back and ask Uncle Zhuang for help."

"..."

Zhang A-mei, who was about to bite her tongue, looked at Huang Ling in shock and asked, "Sister Ling, does this cake really still require food coupons and sugar coupons?"

Huang Ling thought for a moment and then explained with a smile, "I don't know the details. Teacher Zhuang called and ordered all of this in Shanghai. But I think with so much stuff in it, it must have required sugar tickets, sugar tickets, and milk powder tickets."

"That's true! This cake is a precious thing."

Seeing Song Ying doing her best to protect herself, Huang Ling's heart was naturally filled with gratitude. Such a wonderful neighbor is hard to come by.

I remember that I used to dislike Song Ying's brashness and was secretly worried that I wouldn't be able to get along with such a brash neighbor. However, I didn't expect that Song Ying was even better than my own family.

After Wu Jianguo, Zhang Amei and the others left, the house naturally returned to its former tranquility. "Song Ying, you don't have to be as excited as you are today. Just let them say whatever they want."

"Sister Ling, I can't let you suffer this kind of injustice. No one in this cotton mill can bully you."

"Song Ying, thank you."

"Hehe, Sister Ling, sometimes I want to kick Lin Wufeng out, and then the two of us can live together with our three children."

"Bullshit."

"Hehe, really! Sometimes I feel like men are really useless."

"Nonsense! You should be more careful with your words in the future. It's not nice to say these things in front of the children."

"Sister Ling, I understand."

……

When the summer vacation of 1979 arrived, Zhuang Chaoying did not return to Suzhou Cotton Mill. After all, this place was no longer his home.

In addition, I had a very tight schedule on my courses, so I decided to continue studying in school.

Zhuang Tunan and Zhuang Xiaoting had never thought about going home to visit their grandparents. After all, they had noticed the conflict between their parents and their grandparents, and had never taken the initiative to mention this matter to Huang Ling.

However, the tree wants to be still but the wind does not stop. Zhuang's father and mother are worried about their grandson because their daughter who lives far away in Guizhou has sent him to spend the summer vacation.

You have to know that Zhuang's father and mother and Zhuang Ganmei are all calculating towards others, so how could they be willing to raise a grandson Xiang Pengfei who is not close to them? So they thought of sending Xiang Pengfei to Huang Ling.

Zhuang's father's eyes darted around, and then he looked at his youngest son with a calculating look, "Catch up with the beauty, or else you can send Pengfei to the cotton mill tomorrow?"

"Dad, my eldest brother and Huang Ling are divorced. Do you think Huang Ling will still give him face?" However, the youngest son Zhuang Ganmei was not optimistic about this matter. The divorce of Suning and Huang Ling left all of them with nothing.

"What are you afraid of! If you can't handle your bastard brother, can you handle Huang Ling?"

"Forget it! Huang Ling was the one who endured it all before. Now that she and my eldest brother are divorced, she definitely won't be willing to ask about our banker's affairs anymore."

"This……"

"Dad, let's just leave it at that! How much can a child eat?"

"..."

Zhuang's father and mother did not agree with their younger son Zhuang's idea of ​​catching up with the beautiful woman. Instead, they made up their minds to make trouble. Although Huang Ling had many excuses to refuse their requests, she always had a way out that would not refuse them.

The next day, Zhuang's parents took Xiang Pengfei directly to No. 1 Middle School, and finally successfully stopped Zhuang Tunan who had just finished school.

However, Zhuang's parents were immediately surprised by Zhuang Tunan's bicycle. "Tunan, you bought a bicycle?"

"Grandpa and grandma, why are you here?" Zhuang Tunan looked at the grandpa and grandma in front of him somewhat unnaturally.

Unfortunately, Mr. and Mrs. Zhuang were still worried about the bicycle. "Tunan, did your dad buy this bicycle, or did your mom buy it for you?"

"My mom bought it! She traded her sewing machine for it."

Zhuang's mother, standing by, immediately started to criticize Huang Ling. "Hmph! Your mother doesn't know how to manage a household. What's wrong with you walking to school? Going there and back can also help you get some exercise."

"..."

Then, Zhuang's father introduced the little tail beside him to Zhuang Tunan, "Tunan, this is your cousin Pengfei from your aunt's family in Guizhou. He's going to stay with you for the summer vacation."

"Okay! Grandpa and grandma, please put Pengfei's luggage on my handlebars." Sure enough, Zhuang Tunan accepted it without any concerns.

"Haha, good! Our good grandson Tunan is so good."

Then Zhuang Tunan took Xiang Pengfei home in a daze. Xiang Pengfei naturally liked Zhuang Tunan, who was of the same age as him, more. He always felt that his grandparents' smiles were too scary.

But when Huang Ling saw Zhuang Tunan bringing a child home from school, she was surprised. "Tunan, is he your classmate?"

"Mom, he's my aunt's son, Xiang Pengfei. My grandparents sent him to No. 1 Middle School. They said Pengfei would spend the summer vacation at our house."

"..." Huang Ling was so angry that she wanted to yell at the old beast, but she endured it when she saw the child in front of her. "Pengfei, I'm your aunt. Come in and have a drink of water. We can eat later."

"Thank you, auntie."

"Pengfei is so good."

In the evening, Lin Dongzhe heard that Zhuang Tunan's younger brother had come and was coming to their house to spend the summer vacation. Naturally, he was very surprised.

When he learned that Pengfei had never watched the TV series, he took them to his home to watch TV.

It was also Pengfei’s first time watching TV. He was determined to make a lot of money and buy a TV for his parents.

Song Ying was naturally shocked when she heard the situation. "Sister Ling, Tunan's grandparents are really inhuman, aren't they?"

Huang Ling had never expected something like this. "Oh! They're really tough. They knew I wouldn't agree, and they couldn't open their mouths to ask me, so they just went as far as to find Zhuang Tunan's child."

"It's really shameless! I have never seen such a calculating old man." Song Ying, whose worldview was refreshed, started yelling.

In the end, Huang Ling kindly accepted it. After all, she believed that the child was always innocent. "Oh! So be it! It's just a child anyway. Pushing it back and forth would hurt the child's feelings too much."

However, Song Ying couldn't accept such a calculation. "But we can't just sit there and suffer this loss, right?"

"Forget it! Even if I call Zhuang Chaoying, it won't do much. I can't just abandon the child on the street and do nothing about him."

"..." Song Ying, who had no parents-in-law to support, was shocked. She never expected that there really was such a suffocating family.

Huang Ling was like a puppet of the Zhuang family. No matter what methods she tried, she couldn't get rid of them. Even after the divorce, she still couldn't escape the Zhuang family's calculations.

Zhuang Tunan and the others were indeed very nice to Pengfei. Pengfei was also a good boy who knew how to save money. He was reluctant to spend money even when he went to the grocery store. It was Zhuang Xiaoting who took the initiative to buy candy.

Later, Huang Ling saw them and bought popsicles for the four children. Pengfei was embarrassed to accept them.

Huang Ling looked at the child in front of her and felt a little relieved, and then she reluctantly accepted the Zhuang family's plan.

The main reason is that Suning has made their lives more and more prosperous, and they no longer have the financial difficulties they had before, so it is no big deal for them to spend a summer vacation here.

……

(End of this chapter)